FIFA bans Kalu for two years

World soccer governing body FIFA has with immediate effect banned Kalusha Bwalya for two years from all football-related activities at both national and international level.

This was after the The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee found the Zambian football legend guilty of receiving bribes from disgraced former FIFA official Mohammed bin Hammam.

According to a statement posted on the FIFA website, the executive committee member and former FAZ president violated article 16 (Confidentiality) and article 20 (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

Bwalya has also been slapped with a CHF100,000 (US$100,000) fine and the decision by FIFA has since been communicated to him.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Kalusha Bwalya, member of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), for two years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level,” reads the statement.

“The investigation against Mr Bwalya was opened on 28 February 2017, and focused principally on benefits that Mr Bwalya had received from Mr Bin Hammam.

“The adjudicatory chamber found Mr Bwalya guilty of having violated art. 16 (Confidentiality) and art. 20 (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits) of the FIFA Code of Ethics. A fine in the amount of CHF 100,000 was also imposed on Mr Bwalya.

“The decision was notified to Mr Bwalya today, and the ban comes into force immediately.”

Bwalya allegedly received two bribes from Bin Hammam of $50,000 in 2009 and $30,000 in 2011 to support his candidacy for the FIFA presidency and Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

The 1988 African Footballer of the Year becomes the second CAF executive committee member to fall inside two months.

His ban comes after former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyatakyi was exposed in a video by an undercover journalist taking cash in a bag as a gift payment, leading to his subesquent ban by FIFA.